December 2010 Newsletter

Welcome to the MARC Newsletter a publication of the Michigan Area Repeater Council.
This news letter is published quarterly in conjunction with the quarterly business
meetings. If you prefer a non-columnized version of this newsletter
click here for the wide version.

Please notice the instructions for the December electronic meeting.

Database Manager's Corner

We have a number of TDS forms that are overdue. In fact, over 27% of the repeaters
in our database have not been updated in two or more year’s. If your TDS is not current,
the deadline to have your TDS information included in the 2011 – 2012 ARRL Repeater
Directory is 12/31/10. So take a minute and check your entry in the MARC Repeater
Directory to see if it is time to update your records.

Dave Johnson, WD8DJB

MARC Elections

Elections took place at the September meeting. The MARC board would like to
thank outgoing Director Ron Gordon W8YUC for his many years of service. Ron
opted to retire from his postion of Director at the end of this term. Thank
you Ron for your many years of service.

We would also like to welcome Fred Moses W8FSM, who will be filling the
vacated position as well as taking on coordinator duties as well.

Election results can be found in the Minutes section of this newsletter.

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Electronic Meeting Information:

The December meeting is an Electronic Meeting!

PHONE BRIDGE ONLY:

Dial In Number: 888-232-3870
Event ID: 603585#
1. Dial into bridge using Dial In Number
2. Enter Event ID
3. If the meeting organizer is already present,
you'll be connected. If not, you'll be
placed on hold until the organizer appears.

WEBMEETING & Phone Bridge:

Your browser must be Microsoft™ Internet
Explorer Version 4.x, 5.x or Netscape™ Communicator Version 4.x.

Participation in the webmeeting is only needed for things like slideshow
presentations, or use of a whiteboard where someone may need to do an illistration.
It also allows us the opportunity to display the actual text of a motion for everyone
to read. If you are unable to participate in the webmeeting you may still join in
on the phone bridge from wherever you are.

The abilities for MARC to use the Phone Bridge and Webmeeting facilities has been brought
to us by Jim WB8AZP and his employer.

We hope that moving to this format will increase participation by the membership of MARC
so that we are better able to serve the amateur community.

MARC Meeting Minutes

Date: September 10, 2010
This meeting took place in the Delta Township Fire Station near Lansing.

Note: call signs of board members are not repeated in the minutes as
they are listed above Except for Jim WB8AZP, and Jim KB8IFE.

Meeting called to order by Dennis at: 1:00 PM.

Motion to approve minutes from the March meeting was made by Corwin, WB8UPM,
seconded by Ron, vote taken, motion approved.
Treasurer’s report read by Phil. Motion to accept the report made by Dan,
supported by Phil, vote taken, motion carried.

Old business:

Dennis reported on the status of the SEMARA repeater. He had recently been in
contact with the trustee of the repeater and was informed that it had been moved.
It is currently an active repeater. Freq – 146.740, located in Grosse Pointe Park.
Corwin initiated a discussion regarding his issue of whether the Semara repeater
is on the air. Phil and Dennis informed him that it is on the air and has been each
time it was tested. Corwin notified the board that he has placed his own repeater
on this frequency and is operating it. MARC informed Corwin that his repeater cannot
be coordinated at this time. It was suggested that Corwin contact the Semara trustee directly.
Phil stated he is continuing to work on the 440 coordinations. He has one NOPC outstanding,
one provisional, which will not work and will try again on a new frequency. Phil also has one
waiting on a waiver request and additionally has been waiting for information from three other
applicants for about one year. Fred Moses has agreed to take over 440 coordinations starting with
any new incoming applications.
Dan brought up the issue of survivor policy – when a repeater sponsor passes away, how to deal
with this matter? We have no written policy at this time. Discussion. The coordination is held
by the sponsor, but the coordination pair is not “owned” by the sponsor. A sponsor can be an
individual, corporation or group such as a club. If a sponsor passes away who is an individual,
should the pair go back to the pool? The trustee or the owner of the equipment is not the holder
of the coordination unless they are also the sponsor. Fred and Dan agreed to start working on the
wording of a survivor clause to be added to the bylaws.

New Business:

Elections.
Phil opened up the elections and asked if anyone else was interested in running for the offices of
President and Secretary against the incumbents. There were none.
Director: Ron decided not to run again so nominations from the floor were accepted.
Fred Moses and Corwin Moore agreed to be candidates.
Paper vote taken: incumbents Dennis for President, Ann for secretary were reelected, and Fred was voted in as
the to fill the Director position vacated by Ron Gordon.
Some absentee ballots had been received, but were invalid as they had been sent in by people who had not paid 2010
dues.
Corwin moved that the president create a committee to look at how to coordinate repeaters using propagation
programs that incorporate topography, HAAT and other factors rather than using only mileage between co-channel
repeaters. He asked that this committee determine what would need to be changed in the bylaws to implement this
process. Corwin was asked if he would chair the new committee. Corwin agreed. Dennis and Phil are automatically
on the committee due to their office. Motion seconded by Phil. Discussion. Vote taken, motion passed.
Corwin will write up his proposal and send it to Dennis and Phil for their input.
Corwin said the ARROW is operational from the Red Cross building. They are overdue on their TDS and must show
their new location when it is submitted. Dennis thanked Ron Gordon, W8YUC for his many years of service to MARC.

Next meeting:

Next meeting will be electronic, to be held at 1 PM on December 4, 2010.

Adjornment:

Motion to adjourn made by Ann, seconded by Ron at 2 PM, motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,
Ann Manor, KT8F

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Treasurer's Report
For the Period: 08/31/10 to 10/31/10

MARC Funds balance on 08/31/10 was $ 4,789.04
Total income for September & October $23.89 from interest, dues.
There were no reported expenses for September & October
MARC Funds balance on 10/31/10 was $ 4,812.93